Best Instant Pot Refried Beans Recipe
These Instant Pot Refried Beans are made with just a few simple ingredients and cooked in less than an hour. They’re the perfect addition to burritos, tacos, or any Mexican dish. Plus, they’re vegetarian and can easily be made vegan by swapping out the butter for oil.
Learn how to make the best flavor homemade refried beans in your pressure cooker. No need to soak the beans beforehand, just dump everything into the Instant Pot and let it do its magic.
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Contents
What Are Refried Beans?
Refried beans are a traditional Mexican dish made from cooked and mashed pinto beans, often with added fat (such as lard or butter), onions, and spices.
Why You’ll Love This Refried Beans Instant Pot Recipe
The great thing about Instant Pot refried beans is that you can use them for so many different things, and it doesn’t feel like you’re just eating pinto beans.
Are Refried Beans Healthy?
For many of us, refried beans are a staple food that we simply can’t do without. Not only are they delicious and versatile, but they are also packed with essential nutrients that keep us healthy and energized.
How Many Carbs In Refried Beans?
One cup of Instant Pot refried beans has about 40 grams of carbohydrates.
This is a good source of slow-release energy for your body, and it also provides fiber to promote digestion and keep you feeling full longer.
Do Refried Beans Have Protein?
Yes, refried beans are a good source of plant-based protein with about 14 grams per cup. They also contain important minerals such as iron and zinc, making them a nutritious addition to any meal.
Are Refried Beans Gluten Free?
Yes, Instant Pot refried beans are naturally gluten-free. Just make sure to check the labels on any added ingredients (such as broth or spices) for gluten content.
Batch Cooking Pinto Refried Beans
Cooking refried beans in the Instant Pot makes it easy to whip up huge batches of ready for whenever you need them.
I love to batch-cook homemade refried beans and freeze them in the freezer for future use.
Homemade Refried Beans Vs Canned Refried Beans
There’s no comparison in taste and texture when it comes to Instant Pot refried beans versus canned refried beans.
The homemade version is much more flavorful, with a creamy texture that melts in your mouth.
Plus, cooking them at home allows you to control the ingredients and level of spice, as well as make them vegetarian or vegan
Tips For Cooking The Best Homemade Refried Beans
Whether using Instapot refried beans as a side dish or a filling for tacos or burritos, you can rest assured knowing that you’re always making the best possible choice for yourself and your family.
Plus, Instant Pot refried beans are:
Super easy to make.
Refried beans are so easy to make in your Instant Pot. You’ll wonder why you’ve ever bought them in a can.
Adds variety to your meals.
You can make tacos, tostadas, chip dip, Nachos, Enchiladas, burritos, hot dog toppings, and more with this best-refried beans recipe.
Delicious and tasty.
Making your own refried bean recipe means they aren’t bland like the canned stuff. With delicious seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, and more, these beans can taste delicious.
Budget Friendly
Homemade Refried Beans budget friendly and you get much more for your money than buying canned beans.
Ingredients For Instant Pot Refried Beans
You won’t need much for this recipe! In fact, you probably already have everything you need in your pantry.
- 1 lb. of dried pinto beans
- 1/2 stick of butter (1/4 cup butter) or 4tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder
- 2 tablespoons of ground cumin
- 5 Cups Vegetable Broth or Water For Cooking Liquid
Refried Beans Cooking Times
You’ll want to cook your pressure cooker refried beans for about 30 minutes, with a natural release time of 10 minutes. Instant pot refried beans have a quick cook time.
How To Make Instant Pot Refried Beans
Get out that Instant Pot because you are about to make the easiest Refried Beans Instant Pot recipe ever!
STEP 1: RINSE PINTO BEANS
First, make sure you rinse your dry pinto beans. Then, place the dry rinsed beans into your Instant Pot with 5 cups of water.
STEP 2: PRESSURE COOK FOR 30 MINUTES
Seal the lid and pressure valve. Press the manual or pressure cook button and set the time for 30 minutes. Be sure to cook on high pressure.
STEP 3: MANUALLY RELEASE YOUR PRESSURE COOKER
Flip the pressure valve to the venting position, and manually release the electric pressure cooker when the time is up.
STEP 4: DRAIN YOUR PINTO BEANS
Drain the pinto beans while keeping 2 cups of cooking liquid. Set the drained beans aside.
STEP 5: BLEND YOUR PINTO BEANS
Finally, place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices. Blend until the pinto beans are smooth and creamy.
Add your reserved liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve the desired consistency. If you don’t have a food processor you can use an immersion blender or potato masher.
An immersion blender is great for mashing beans because it’s easy to clean and you can blend the pinto beans right in the Instant Pot.
Step 6: Serve Your Refried Bean Recipe
Serve your refried pinto beans as a side dish or use them as a filling for tacos, burritos, and more. Enjoy!
Cooking Refried Beans In A Pressure Cooker
Now you know how to make refried beans in a pressure cooker you can make them for any meal in no time!
Can You Overcook Beans In An Instant Pot?
It is possible to overcook beans in an Instant Pot but it’s not very likely. The Instant Pot has a timer and will stop cooking once the time is up, so it’s hard to overcook your beans.
Just make sure you check for doneness before serving and add more liquid if needed.
Can I Add Onions To Pressure Cooker Refried Beans?
Yes, you can definitely add chopped onions or diced onion to your Instant Pot refried beans for added flavor. Simply sauté the onions in a pan before adding them to the Instant Pot with the rest of the ingredients.
You can also add green onions also known as spring onions for a more mild onion flavor. Simply chop the green onions and add them as a topping for your Instant Pot refried beans once they are cooked.
Can I Use Chicken Stock In This Recipe?
Yes, you can substitute chicken stock for the vegetable broth in this Instant Pot refried beans recipe for added flavor. However, keep in mind that it will no longer be vegetarian.
Can I Use Bacon Fat For Making Refried Beans?
Yes, you can definitely use bacon fat instead of butter or olive oil. It will add a smoky flavor to your Instant Pot refried beans. Simply cook bacon in a pan and use the bacon fat in the place of butter after pressure cooking.
What Are The Best Beans To Use When Making This Refried Bean Recipe?
Pinto beans are the number one beans to use for refried beans. This is because they are so buttery. If you don’t have pinto beans, navy beans or great northern beans are a good substitute.
Keep in mind that using different beans can result in changing the time on your Instant Pot. Take a look at my Instant Pot Dried Beans Cooking Times if you are using different beans.
How To Make Refried Beans Creamier?
If you want creamier Instant Pot refried beans, add a bit of cream or sour cream to the Instant Pot when blending the beans. You can also add more reserved cooking liquid as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
What Do Refried Navy Beans Taste Like?
Navy beans have a milder flavor than pinto beans, but they still make delicious refried beans. They are also smaller in size and firmer, so the texture of Instant Pot navy bean refried beans may be slightly different.
How Do You Store Refried Beans?
This refried bean recipe can be stored in an airtight container that is either plastic or glass in the refrigerator.
How Long Are Refried Beans Good For In The Refridgerator?
Leftover refried beans can last up to 5 days in the fridge.
Can You Freeze Refried Beans?
If you want to use your beans for different recipes, you can freeze them almost indefinitely. Place them in freezer bags and store them flat in your freezer. We recommend eating them in about 12 months.
Can I Make Refried Beans In A Slow Cooker?
Yes, you can make this favourite refried beans recipe in a slow cooker. Simply follow the steps above, but instead of using the pressure cook button, use the slow cook button and set it for 4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.
Instant Pot Refried Beans
Ingredients
- 1 lb. of pinto beans dried
- 1/2 stick of butter
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon of paprika
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder
- 2 tablespoons of ground cumin
Instructions
- Place dry rinsed beans into the Instant Pot and add 5 cups of water
- Seal the lid and pressure valve and cook on high for 30 minutes.
- Manually release pressure when finished.
- Drain beans while keeping 2 cups of liquid and set aside.
- Place the beans in a food processor with butter and spices. Blend until beans are smooth and creamy.
- Add leftover liquid 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve desired consistency.
What To Serve With Refried Beans?
You can serve refried beans as a side dish to any Mexican-themed meal or with rice and quesadillas.
Some other options include enchiladas, tacos, burritos, or even as a topping for nachos. They are also delicious on their own as a dip with chips. Yum!
Some of my favorite toppings for refried beans include:
- Diced avocado.
- Diced tomatoes.
- Fresh Cilantro.
- Shredded cheese.
- Sour cream.
- Kosher Salt.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper.
Can Dogs Eat Refried Beans?
Refried beans can be a healthy and tasty treat for dogs as long as they are plain with no added spices or seasonings, onions, garlic, or avocado.
Serve them in moderation and always check with your vet before adding any new foods to your dog’s diet.
Can Cat’s Eat Refried Beans?
No, cats should not eat refried beans as they do not provide any nutritional value and can potentially cause digestive issues. Stick to giving your cat their regular diet.
Different Ways To Use Refried Beans
Besides using them as a side dish, refried beans can be used as a spread on sandwiches or as a filling in quesadillas and burritos.
You could even use them to make a homemade bean dip or add them to soups for extra protein and flavor. The possibilities are endless!
How To Make Refried Beans From Scratch?
It is very simple and easy to cook pressure cooker refried beans from scratch. This tutorial shares the best way to do so.
Enjoy making this delicious and easy refried beans recipe. It’s a great recipe and packed with extra flavor.
Comment below and let us know how they turned out for you.
